Head of Operations - Bespoke Manufacturing

HEAD OF OPERATIONS - BESPOKE MANUFACTURING

CREWE, CHESHIRE

UP TO £100,000 + BONUS + COMPANY CAR / CAR ALLOWANCE + BENEFITS

THE COMPANY:

We've been exclusively appointed to conduct a retained search for a Head of Operations / Operations Manager to join a highly successful and fast-growing Bespoke Manufacturing / Engineering business in Crewe. The business has built a reputation for manufacturing innovative products to a very high standard and as a result, they've achieved preferred supplier status with some of the world's leading brands, leading to consistent year-on-year growth.

As part of their strategic growth plans to treble the size of the business, they now seek a highly experienced Head of Operations / Operations Manager who has worked in the Bespoke Manufacturing / Engineering sector. The successful candidate will lead key departments such as Manufacturing, Logistics, Warehousing, and Procurement, whilst ensuring scalable processes are in place to support growth. This is a great opportunity to join a highly driven, fast-growing, and entrepreneurial business where you can enjoy a long-term career.

THE HEAD OF OPERATIONS / OPERATIONS MANAGER ROLE:

• Overseeing all manufacturing and engineering operations to ensure efficient, high-quality production, to schedule, and deliver agreed results to customers within the agreed timescale.
• Responsible for leading a direct team of 3 to 4 Direct Reports, with an indirect team of 35-40 people across departments such as Manufacturing, Logistics, Warehousing, and Procurement.
• Implementing and managing LEAN processes to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Developing and managing production schedules, inventory control, materials planning, labour, and contingency plans to ensure BAU at all times.
• Monitoring key performance metrics and implementing data-driven strategies to optimise processes.
• Collaborating with the leadership team to forecast demand, manage budgets, and drive profitability.
• Demonstrating strong financial awareness and experience with resource planning and budgeting.
• Working with modern ERP systems to streamline operations and support data-driven decision-making. Driving adoption throughout the organisation and making improvements where required.
• Identifying and addressing bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
• Reviewing and implementing solid SOPs and ensuring that all processes are scalable and align with the company's growth and profitability objectives.
• Leading and developing the operations team, providing coaching, training, and performance management.

THE PERSON:

• The successful candidate will need to have current experience in an Operations Manager, or similar role, such as Head of Operations or Operations Director, within an Engineering and/or Manufacturing business.
• Experience in Bespoke Manufacturing / Bespoke Engineering is essential within a business with a £50m+ turnover.
• Very strong leadership qualities with experience of managing multi-disciplined teams such as Manufacturing, Production, Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement & Transport.
• A good mix of Operational & Strategic Leadership Experience.
• Expertise in implementing and managing LEAN manufacturing processes.
• Strong financial acumen and budgeting skills.
• Experience with modern ERP systems.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

TO APPLY: Please send your CV for the Head of Operations / Operations Manager via the advert for immediate consideration. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a discussion about the opportunity before your CV is shared with our client.